After the Oakland Raiders’ second consecutive four-win season, general manager Reggie McKenzie was intent on making a few changes.

The Raiders underwent an offseason overhaul, bringing in the likes of quarterback Matt Schaub, running back Maurice Jones-Drew, wide receiver James Jones, defensive tackle Antonio Smith, and defensive ends LaMarr Woodley and Justin Tuck. The average age of those acquisitions (along with left tackle Donald Penn and cornerbacks Carlos Rogers and Tarell Brown)? Just short of 31.

Skewing that old is an odd approach to rebuilding, but McKenzie could be feeling the pressure mount. McKenzie (and coach Dennis Allen) might be able to survive another losing season. But progress is expected in Year 3 of the regime, and adding proven veterans might be the easiest way to bolster the win total.

But McKenzie’s approach is at least short-sighted, and probably significantly damaging to a franchise almost entirely void of young talent.

The Raiders have a drafting problem. Of the Raiders’ first-round draft picks in the last 10 years, just two – running back Darren McFadden and cornerback D.J. Hayden – remain on the roster. Look deeper at the depth chart. Other than linebacker Khalil Mack, this year’s first-round selection, there are few promising players for the team to bring along.

Free agency then seems like a natural route for improving the roster. But most of this year’s additions are stopgap solutions. Schaub’s career might be beyond repair after last year’s collapse with the Houston Texans. Jones-Drew plodded to a 3.4 yards-per-carry average last season with the Jacksonville Jaguars. And the Pittsburgh Steelers were ready to move on from Woodley after the pass rusher couldn’t play up to his hefty contract.

Even more alarming for the Raiders is the departure of homegrown talent. Left tackle Jared Veldheer and defensive end Lamarr Houston — both 27 years old and among the team’s best young players — left in free agency. McKenzie said neither one wanted to stay with the Raiders, but Veldheer shot down the claim; the Cardinals appeared to win out because they were more enthusiastic in their pursuit of Veldheer.

Without young talent like Veldheer and Houston, the over-the-hill gang is all Oakland can depend on.

If the new crew of veterans can create an atmosphere that attracts (and retains) young talent, then the moves will pay off. But McKenzie is responsible for that culture, and he’ll have to answer for it if the Raiders don’t take a big step forward.